Explaining the Birds and Bees to Your Kids

Photo courtesy of Diego Mena Fotografia
Photo courtesy of Diego Mena Fotografia

Waitlist - Thursday, May 16 at 7 PM

Waitlist - Wednesday, May 22 at 10 AM

Amanda Romaniello, LPC and Ed Moran, LCSW from Family Centers will help moms and dads prepare to have a frank discussion on "the birds and the bees" with their child. Register online for one of the two scheduled workshops.

 

Great Non-Fiction For Kids

With the increasing focus on reading non-fiction at all grade levels in school, the Darien Children's Librarians put together recommendations of some of their all-time favorite non-fiction books for kids of all ages! Just click on the links below:

Kindergarten and First Grade

Second and Third Grade

Fourth and Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade and Beyond

Growing Good Kids

Photo courtesy of Flickr user JeanM1
Photo courtesy of Flickr user JeanM1

Join us for the May session of Growing Good Kids.

Tuesday, May 7 at 10 AM in the Toddler Room

This program is a resource roundtable for caregivers at the Darien Library. Attendees can participate in an informal dialogue on childcare topics facilitated by Kate Frommer, Psy.D from Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut.

Children's Book Week at Darien Library

The CBW poster for 2013 was designed by Brian Selznick, the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck.
The CBW poster for 2013 was designed by Brian Selznick, the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck.

This year the Children's Library will be hosting events in celebration of Children's Book Week. An annual celebration established in 1919, Children's Book Week spreads the joy of reading and children's literature to everyone. 

Register for one of the featured book programs or view a cultural performance from Teatro SEA, the Society of the Educational Arts. 

La Cucarachita Martina/Martina the Little Roach by Teatro SEA

Tuesday, May 14 at 4:30 PM
Teatro SEA, the Society of the Educational Arts, will perform this Cuban and Puerto Rican folk tale using puppets and Latin music. Ages 4 to 9.
This program will be held in the Library’s Community Room and tickets will be distributed 15 minutes before the performance.

A Visit with Author Melissa Guion

Thursday, May 16 at 4 PM

Melissa Guion, author and illustrator of Baby Penguins Everywhere, will visit Darien Library for a read-aloud, arts and crafts, and some penguin fun! Ages 4 to 7.

Brand New Audio!

 

The Children's Library just got a huge order of brand new audio - both CDs and Playaways! See if we have your new favorites below!

 

Non-Fiction for 6th Grade & Beyond

The Children's Librarians have compiled their favorite non-fiction books for sixth grade and beyond!

Common Core Resources for Parents

Looking to learn more about the Common Core State Standards? Here are a few great resources:

Presentation Slides from March 20, 2013 Panel Discussion

CoreStandards.org  The website that details all aspects of the standards. 

Connecticut State Department of Education 

About Common Core  Presented by the Connecticut Education Association 

Parent Guides to Student Sucess  Created by the National PTA, these are grade-level guides that detail the skills children are expected to master. 

Shifts for Students and Parents  Created by EngageNY.org, this document explains the six major shifts in English and Math that happen under Common Core. 

Tween Book Group - March 20th

Wednesday, March 20th at 6 p.m.

Join us for a discussion of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's award-winning Jeffersons Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children.

A lively discussion over pizza will be followed by a book-related activity.

Grades 4 - 6.

Be sure to check out each month's Tween Book Group!

2013 ALA Youth Media Award Winners

Congratulations to this year's ALA Youth Media Award Winners!

The Newbery Award for excellence in children's literature went to The One and Only Ivan by Kathryn Applegate. Newbery honors were given to Laura Amy Schlitz for Splendors and Glooms, Sheila Turnage for Three Times Lucky, and Sibert Winner Bomb.

This year, the Caldecott Award for excellence in picture books went to John Klassen, for This is Not My Hat. Klassen also won a Caldecott Honor for Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett. Other Caldecott Honors were given to Peter Brown for Creepy Carrots, Laura Seeger for Green, David Small for One Cool Friend and to Pamela Zagarenski for Sleep Like a Tiger. Special Congratulations to Miss Kiera on her excellent work on the 2013 Caldecott Committee!

The Sibert Award for excellence in children's non-fiction went to Bomb: The Race to Build (And Steal) The World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steven Sheinkin. And the Geisel Award, for excellence in Early Readers, went to Up, Tall and High, by Ethan Long.

See a full list of winners below!

Youth Media Awards to be Announced on Monday

Happy 75th Birthday, Caldecott Medal!
Happy 75th Birthday, Caldecott Medal!

The American Library Association's Youth Media Awards were announced this Monday, January 28th!**  These awards include the Caldecott Medal (for distinguished illustrations), the Newbery Medal (for distinguished children's book writing), the Seibert Award (for distinguished non-fiction), and the Geisel (for distinguished book for beginning readers). 

**The Children's Library is extra excited about this year's Caldecott books because our own Miss Kiera is on the Caldecott Committee and will be helping to select this year's winner and honor books! 

See the full list of winners here!

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